In surgical and rehabilitation notes the AKA medical abbreviation means above knee amputation, an operation that removes the leg through the thigh bone, leaving the hip and part of the thigh. The formal term is transfemoral amputation, because the cut passes across the femur.
Charts usually add a side, so you will see R AKA for the right leg or L AKA for the left. The same letters have two other medical uses: the everyday also known as, and alcoholic ketoacidosis in emergency notes. This page explains each, compares AKA with BKA, and decodes some typical lines.
At a glance
Stands for
Above knee amputation (transfemoral amputation)Other meanings
Also known as; alcoholic ketoacidosisWritten as
AKA, R AKA, L AKA, bilateral AKAsWord roots
Trans (across) plus femoral (thigh bone)Used in
Vascular surgery, orthopedics, rehabilitation, prostheticsDo not confuse with
BKA (below knee amputation)
What the AKA medical abbreviation means after surgery
An above knee amputation removes the lower leg, the knee joint and part of the thigh. The surgeon shapes the remaining limb, called the residual limb or stump, so it can heal well and later fit a prosthetic leg. Common reasons include severe blockage of leg arteries, often written PAD, infection that cannot be controlled, serious injury and some tumors.
Surgeons prefer to keep the knee when they safely can, because walking with a prosthesis takes less effort when the knee is preserved. When the tissue below the knee cannot heal, an AKA may be the better choice.
Left AKA and right AKA medical abbreviation wording
Side matters in every amputation note, and it is written several ways.
| Chart wording | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L AKA or LAKA | Left above knee amputation |
| R AKA or RAKA | Right above knee amputation |
| Bilateral AKAs | Both legs removed above the knee |
| R AKA, L BKA | Right leg above the knee, left leg below the knee |
| S/p L AKA | Status post, meaning the left AKA was done in the past |
So in a history list, the L AKA medical abbreviation shorthand simply records that the left leg was amputated above the knee at some earlier point.
AKA compared with BKA and other levels
Amputation levels run from the toes up to the hip, and each has its own shorthand. A TMA removes the front of the foot. A BKA, below knee or transtibial amputation, keeps the knee. An AKA removes the knee. A knee disarticulation goes through the joint itself, and a hip disarticulation removes the whole leg. Physical therapists plan very different training for each level, since the effort of walking rises the higher the amputation.
Also known as and alcoholic ketoacidosis
Outside of surgery, aka in lower case often just means also known as, the same as in everyday writing. Registration and records staff use it for a patient's other names, such as a former surname or a nickname. Emergency and intensive care notes sometimes use AKA for alcoholic ketoacidosis, a metabolic problem that can follow heavy drinking and poor food intake.
In an emergency note: "Vomiting, poor PO intake, anion gap acidosis, likely AKA." Here the writer means alcoholic ketoacidosis, not an amputation. Lab values and the history around it make that clear. Many clinicians write it out in full to avoid any doubt.
Life and care after an above knee amputation
Recovery usually moves through wound healing, swelling control with wraps or shrinker socks, strength and balance work, and then prosthetic fitting for those who are candidates. Some people walk with a prosthetic leg and an aid, while others rely mainly on a wheelchair. Phantom sensations, the feeling that the removed limb is still there, are common and can be treated.
Questions worth raising with the team include when the first prosthetic fitting may happen, how to protect the skin of the residual limb, and how to prevent contractures, a tightening at the hip that makes walking harder.
For students: charting amputation status
Scribes and coding trainees should always record the level and the side, and should not use AKA alone if a note could be read as alcoholic ketoacidosis. Many facilities prefer above knee amputation written out in problem lists. Find related procedure shorthand on the surgery abbreviations hub.
Recovery after amputation is individual. Your surgeon, physical therapist and prosthetist can explain what applies to you or the person you care for.
Frequently asked questions
What does AKA mean in surgery?
In surgery AKA means above knee amputation, removal of the leg through the thigh bone. It is also called transfemoral amputation.
What is the difference between AKA and BKA?
An AKA removes the leg above the knee, so the knee joint is gone. A BKA removes it below the knee and keeps the knee, which usually makes walking with a prosthesis easier.
What does L AKA mean?
L AKA means left above knee amputation. R AKA is the same operation on the right leg.
Can AKA mean also known as in a medical chart?
Yes. In registration and record notes aka often means also known as, used for a patient's other names. The rest of the sentence makes the meaning plain.
Can people walk after an above knee amputation?
Many people walk again with a prosthetic leg and a walking aid after training, though it takes more energy than walking with a below knee prosthesis. Whether it suits a particular person depends on health, strength and goals.